The battle of Bonn Square continues this week, following news that a student from St Anne’s was arrested for littering. Jonathon Leighton threw a bottle of water to Gabriel Chamberlain, living in a tree in Bonn square. His throw however missed, leading the police to arrest him for littering.
The student was handcuffed and taken to St Aldate’s Police station where he was held for three hours. He was questioned and had his fingerprints, DNA and photograph taken. Leighton was eventually released without charge at 5.15am, but he told the Oxford Mail that he was seeking legal advice as he felt the police had “abused their powers”.
He said in his internet blog that he was angry about the principle of “arrest first, ask questions later” that the police had appeared to operate under.The situation may have been resolved with no charges been pressed, but it illustrates the ongoing controversy surrounding the Westgate redevelopment project. Leighton wrote in his blog, “this won’t be the last protest over the council’s desire to turn Oxford into a more characterless, consumerist city.”
By Sian Cox-Brooker
St Anne’s student arrested
